Barbie Controversy!

Growing up, Barbie was my bff! I loved all the outfits and hair styles and if I had been little when the Barbie "Back To Basics" collection hit stores I would have been dying for one!

However, parents are less than impressed with this new line of dolls. Parents are claiming these dolls look like "gold diggers", "unrealistically beautiful super models" and are "inappropriately dressed". I happen to disagree....I think the dolls look ultra chic and totally fashion forward! What is wrong with having dolls that look chic?

I'm putting this one out to all the ChickAdvisor chicks! Would you buy this toy for your daughter, what do you think of the controversy? Share your opinions, I am excited to hear everyones thoughts!

2 Replies

I think these are very appropriate! I'm not sure how they are being seen as "gold diggers" ? To me they look like strong powerful business women. I do not have a daughter, but I have two young nieces and would definately purchase one of these Barbies before I bought her a trashy Bratz doll!

I'm a mom to a girl and I would say that some of these Barbies are completely appropriate, while others cross the line for me.

First, I don't really see any difference morally between a Barbie being dressed up in a Miss America-style ballgown and one dressed in a Little Black Dress. We all wear these outfits to weddings, parties, and on dates, so I think it's a little hypocritical.

Many of these Barbies have tastefully attractive LBDs on - from the left #2, #3, #5, #7, and 2nd from the far right. The skirts are knee length or just above, and the figure hugging silhouette is sexy without being inappropriate.

Some of them are too much for me - the super short skirts on 5 of the middle dolls (2 blondes, a redhead, the chestnut brunette, and the gorgeous ebony-skinned doll) are almost to the crotch. I would never wear that kind of dress, nor would I be pleased to see my daughter idolizing that. That kind of outfit I would definitely not have in my house. It's hard to tell, but it looks like the doll on the far right has a deeply plunging neckline - if so, that would also be a big no no.

Keep in mind that there are 2 groups of consumers interested in Barbies. 1 is Barbie enthusiasts of all ages - collectors, etc. These are usually adults and can handle the image messaging.

The other group is impressionable young preteens. These are the girls we should be careful to protect. I think a lot of adults look at these things through mature eyes and perhaps forget that a 5 or 8 year old girl isn't equipped to understand these things, even if Mom or Dad talks these things through with her.

As long as my daughter would receive one of the "tamer" versions, I would be perfectly okay with this Barbie. A more risque version would go straight back to the store. I'm not stodgy or prudish - just need to draw the line somewhere. It's a very slippery slope.